mogill



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

J. H. McGILL. INDICATOR FOR ELEVATORS.

No. 497,43.l. Patented May 16, 1893.

THE Nonms Pnzas co. PHQTO-UTND" WASHINGTON, u. c.

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

J. H. McGILL. INDICATOR FOR ELEVATORS.

No. 497,431. Patented May 16, 1893.

ms nonms PETERS co. PHOTQLITHQ. WASHINGTON. u c.

STATES JAMES H. MOGILL, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

INDICATOR FOR ELEVATORS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 497,431, dated May 16,1893.

Application filed February 11, 1893. Serial No. 461,849. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JAMES H. MoGILL, a citiaen of theUnited States,residing at WVashing' on city, in the District of Columbia, haveinvented certain new and useful Improve ments in Indicators forElevators; and Lh'ereby declare the following to be a full, clear andexact description of the same,'reference being had to theaccompanyingtlrawings, in which- Figure 1 is an elevation of til)ase2.-.ent,

first and second floors of a building, the walls of the basement andsecond fioor being removed to show the interior of the elevator shaft,and the mechanism embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is an enlarged planview of the drums and cross-head of the elevator motor, the primary orpower drum of the indicator mechanism, and other details pertainingthereto, looking down from the plane of the dotted line a-w Fig. 1. Fig.3 is a detail perspective view of a portion of the indicator frame andslide track, the indicator slide, and a portion of the flexibleconnection between the power shaft and indicator slide. Fig. 4 is avertical transverse section of the indicator frame and the indicatorslide and track, on the dotted line yy Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is an enlargedview of a portion of the power shaft and one of the drums for theflexible connection between the power shaft and slide. Fig. 6, is anenlarged detached view of a threaded eye-bolt for securing the flexibleconnection to the drum of .the power shaft; and Fig. 7 is an enlargeddetail View of a portion of the cross-head of the elevator motor, and aportion of the flexible connection between the cross-head and theprimary or power drum of theindicator mechanism,illustrating one form ofadjustable connection for taking up any slack in said flexibleconnection.

In Figs. 1 and 2 the mechanism is shown in the position it will occupywhen the elevator is raised or on the upper floor of a building.

Like symbols refer to like parts wherever they occur.

My invention relates to the construction of indicators and indicatormechanism for elevators, whereby the position of the elevator within theshaft, its relation to any floor of the building, and its direction oftravelwhether up or downis simultaneously indicated on each of theseveral floors of the building.

The main objects of my invention are to .simplify the mechanism foractuating the indicator mechanism, render its first cost cheaper,correct the tendency to variation in thetravel of the indicator, reducethe strain and wear on the operative devices and thus render theindicator mechanism more efficient and less liable to become deranged.

To this end the principal feature of invention, generally statedembraces the combination with indicator mechanism of a vertical rotarypower shaft for actuating said index mechanism, means for rotating theshaft in one direction, and a counterweight or its equivalent formaintaining a constant counterdraft in the reversedirection whereby thevariation in the travel of the index mechanism incident to the torsionof the power shaft is corrected.

Minor or secondary, features of the inven- I tion embrace the positionand combinations of the index mechanism with the vertical rotary powershaft and cou'nterweights, all as will hereinafter more fully appear.

I will now proceed to describe my invention more fully so that othersskilled in the art to which it appertains may apply the same.

In the drawings A indicates the basement section .of the elevator shaft,A the chamber for the elevator motor, B the first floor of the building,and O the second floor-three floors being simply chosen for purposes ofillustration-though seven floors are marked on the indicator scaleand itwill be understood that the invention hereinafter described isapplicable to a building of any number of stories-the mechanism for anystory being but a duplication of that for the preceding story, the indexpower shaft being lengthened to correspond.

At any suitable point within the clearance space of the elevator shaft,but preferably close within one of the front corners of the elevatorshaft, I erect a vertical rotary index power shaft 1which, as it haslittle or no strain imposed on it, may if desired be as light asthree-fourths inch diameter rodmay be made up of sections threaded atthe ends and united by threaded sleeves and set screws, or in othersuitable manner. This index power shaft 1 is stepped below on a footplate 2 and passes at suitable intervals through brackets 3, 3, whichmaintain it in its proper position. At a short distance above the footof the shaft it is provided with a bevel pinion 4 which may beadjustable on shaft 1 and secured thereto by a feather or spline, a setscrew or in any suitable manner. With said bevel pinion 4 there meshes abevel pinion 5 on the shaft 6 of a primary power drum 7, mounted insuitable bearings 8, 8, arranged on the same foundation or adjacent tothe elevator motor M.

9 indicates a flexible connection, it may be a chain, steel ribbon, orother suitable flexible connection if desired, but is preferably wirerope, connected at one end to the drum by a threaded eye rod 10 whichscrews into a tapped hole in the drum-or in any other suitable manner,which wire rope after be ing coiled two or three times around the drum 9(according to the amount of motion required) has its opposite endconnected to the cross head X of the elevator motor.

The character of the motor M and its position is immaterial and anyother source of power may be the point of connection for the end of thewire rope 9, not connected to the drum 7. However, I prefer to use thecross head X of the motor as the source of power, and therefore attachthereto an arm or bracket 11 to which the wire rope 9 is secured in anysuitable manner, but preferably by means of an adjustable threaded eyebolt 12 and jam nuts 12, 12, whereby any slack in the rope 9 can betaken up at will. In case of change of direction of the flexibleconnection 9 one or more guide pulleys G may be employed.

13 indicates a second flexible connectionor wire rope-also connected atone end to the primary power drum 7, coiled about the same passingthence over an elevated pulley P (see Fig. 1) and having its oppositeend attached to a suitable weight 14 which weight may be housed in avertical guide box 15 if desired. From the above description it will benoted that the drum 7 receives its motion in one dition from thecross-head of the elevator motor (or other suitable source of power)through the flexible connection 9, and its reverse motion from theweight 14, through the flexible connection 13, and imparts said severalmotions to the index power shaft 1, through the bevel pinions 4 and 5.

16 indicates the indicator frame, arranged transversely of the elevatorshaft above the plane of the doorD, and having let into or secured toits face a reflector or mirror strip 17 on which the numbers indicatingthe several floors (or the scale) are marked as indicated in Fig. 1.Secured to the back of the indicator frame 16 are the slide track rails18, and if desired the slide may be boxed or cased in at the rear, asindicated at 19 Fig. 4:.

20 indicates the index slide or carriage adapted to move on rails 18,and provided with an ind ex finger 21, arranged to travel in front ofthe reflector or mirror and scale strip 17. At the rear of index slideor carriage 20 is an eye 22 through which passes the flexible connection23 (wire cord-steel band-light chain or equivalent) which connects theindex slide 20 with the index power shaft 1. The index slide or carriage20 is therefore adjustable with relation to the flexible connection 23,and when adjusted as desired, can be secured in position by the setscrew 24. Arranged on, and secured to, the index power shaft 1 at apoint corresponding with the horizontal plane of the index slide 20 is asmalldrum 25 (one for each index slide) to which one end of the flexibleconnection or wire cord 23 is secured by an eye bolt (similar to 10Fig.6) or in other suitable manner-while theopposite end of said flexibleconnection 23 after passing around a pulley 19 (see top Fi 1) is securedto a weight 26, which, if desired, may be incased by a tube 27 orequivalent casin The operation of the devices will be as followsz-Theelevator being at the upper floor (as in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings)the return r-movement of cross-head X (see arrow Figs. 1 and 2), willslack the flexible connection (wire rope) 9, which will be at once woundup on drum 7, said drum 7 being actuated by the descent of weight 14',which will unwind the flexible connection (wire-rope) 13 therefrom. Themovement of the drum 7 is communicated to index power shaft 1, by meansof the bevel gearing t, 5, and the movement of index shaft 1, is alsoassisted by the descent of weights 26, attached to the flexibleconnections 23, which connect theindex slides 20 with index power shaft1, (see Fig. 1) which weights 26 at the same time, cause the index slide20 to travel back over the scale 17 until the elevator has reached thefirst floor. On the rise, or upward travel of the elevator, thecross-head X draws upon the flexible connection (wire rope) 9, unwindingthe same from drum 7 rotating said drum so as to wind up the flexibleconnection 13 thereon and elevate weight 14. This motion of drum 7 isalso imparted by means of bevel gearing 4t, 5, to index power shaft 1,rotating the same and winding the flexible connections (wire cords) 23,upon drums 25, which draws the index slides 20 toward the index powershaft 1, causing the index finger 21 to travel progressively over thescale from No. 1 to No. 7, the, at the same time elevating the weights26, which thereafter serve to cause the return movement of the indexslides.

It will be noted that among the advantages of my invention, are-first,that the mechanism is very simple, inexpensive, and efficient; second,that owing to the arrangement of horizontal scale plates, the indicatoris easily read at a glance; and third, that owing to the horizontalarrangement of the indicator, and horizontal travel of the index slideor carriage, flexible connections and weights can be used for one travelof the index, and a shaft for the other travel, fourth, as a result ofsuch combinations, the torsion on the index power shaft is reduced to aminimum, and divided up on to short sections of the shaft, which is animportant feature, in case of high buildings and long shafts; andfinally, that in the reverse movement'of the shaft, the power is dividedup and applied along its entire length, all of which tends to preservethe integrity of the structure, reduce the wearon the bearings, andrender the mechanism more durable and less liable to get out of order.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secureby Letters Patent, is

1. In an elevator indicator mechanism, the combination of a verticalrotary shaft for actuating the index mechanism, means for rotating saidshaft in one direction, and a counterweight for rotating the shaft inreverse direction, substantially as specified.

2. In an elevator indicator, the combination of an indicator carriage orslide, a vertical rotary power shaft, a direct flexible connectionbetween the said shaft and carriage, and means for retracting thecarriage; substantially as and for the purposes specified.

3. In an elevatorindicator, the combination of a horizontal track, anindex slide or carriage adapted to travel thereon, a vertical powershaft, an interposed flexible connection, and means for retracting theindex slide or carriage; substantially as and for the purposesspecified.

4. In an elevator index, the combination with a vertical rotary powershaft and means for actuating said shaft, of an index slide or carriage,and a flexible connection from said slide or carriageto the verticalrotary power shaft, the slide being adjustable on said flexibleconnection; substantially as and for the purposes specified.

5. In an elevator index mechanism, the combination With a verticalrotary power shaft, of a drum and flexible connections for rotating thedrum and actuating the power shaft, an index slide and flexibleconnections for actuating the index slide from the vertical rotary powershaft; substantially as and for the purposes specified.

p 6. v In an elevatorindex mechanism, the combination of a drum, aflexible connection therefrom to the source of power, a flexibleconnection provided with a weight to reverse the movement of the drum, avertical rotary power shaft, actuated from the drum, and indexmechanism, actuated by the power shaft;

substantially as and for the purposes specified.

7. In an elevator indicator mechanism, the combination of a drum, anadjustable flexible connection between said drum and the elevator motor,a flexible connection and suspended weight for reversing the movement ofsaid drum, a vertical power shaft actuated by said drum, a horizontalindicator track, an indicator slide or carriage adapted to travelthereon, a flexible connection between said shaft and index slide, and ameans for retracting the carriage or slide; substantially as and for thepurposes specified.

8. In an elevatorindex mechanism, the combination of drum 7, flexibleconnection 9,leading to a motor, flexible connection 13 provided withsuspended weight 14, power shaft 1, provided with drum 25, suitablegearing between drum 7 and shaft l,tlexible connec tion 23 provided withweight 26, a horizontal track, and an index slide adapted to travel 7 onthe track and adjustably connected with flexible connection 23,substantially as and for the purposes specified.

9. In an elevator index, the combination with a vertical rotary powershaft and its motor, of a series of independent index slides orcarriages, a separate flexible connection from said rotary power shaftto each of said index slides or carriages, and means for retracting

